Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-26
THEY WILL HAVE HIM
THOUGH IT TAKES THg WHOLE STATE TO
TO GET HIN.
A Delegation from Missouri, Headed BY Mayor
Francis, Of St. Louis, Invite the President and
the President AccsPts-The Presidents
Response 10 Mayor Francis.

y
made his appearance.
Mayor Francis, of ST. Louis, immediate
ly stepped to the front and made the fol-
lowing address:
MIR. PREsIDENT:-It was my fortune
sixty days ago, accompanied by twenty
five representative citizens, to supplement
aud earnestly endorse, in behalfOt the peo-
pie of that city, an invitation previously
extended tn You to attend the annual en-
campment of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, to be held in the city OF st. Louis
during the last weekOf September next.
The success Ofthat mission in elIciting from
you a favorable response, was highly
gratifying to the people OF st. Louis and
Missouri
The disappointment later consequent
upon your letter of declinatiOn, was deep
and all prevailing, but co-extensive with
IL was the sentiment of sincere approval of
the patriotic motives which had prompted
you TO such action, the citizens OF st.
Louis irrespective Of party, nationality or
race in mass meeting assembled the day
after your letters were received, with one
voice enthusiastically resolved to extend
10 yourself and your estimable wife a cor
dial invitation to visit their city during the
first week of October next, and instructed
their Mayor with a committee Of
fifty citizens to convey and deliver
the same in person to you. Assem-
bidges OF like character were promptly
held IN almost every county IN the State,
endorsing and emphasizing the action
taken in st. Louis. Delegates were ap-
pointed at these meetings to proceed to the
capital of the nation and there TO express
to the Chief Executive in q manner as eff
fectiVn rs words and form would permit,
the warmth OF the greeting which awaits
him from the people of Missouri, in the
metropolis Of their State. We are here,
therefore, in obedience to the mandates of
our people, representing all sections of
Missouri, her commercial, manufacturing
aud agricultural interests and rejecting
the desire of every city, town and hamlet
within her borders to urge yOu and Mrs.
Cleveland to favor us with your presence.
This invitation emanates from the psO-
pie, your sovereign and ours, and not from
any organization, civil or military, politi-
cal or religious. Ii is the spontaneous out
burst of q community that never suffers its
reputation for hospitality to be aspersed.
1t is a vigorous and feeling protest OF a
generous host against the absolute declina-
tion of distinguished guest to he cen
trail figure of an invited company. The
reasons why you should visit the West are
even stronger now than ON the former occa-
sion when yOur reply WAS a favorable one,
whether viewed from our standpoint or
your own. Our appearance before you in
largely increased numbers, coming rs we
do even from the most remote sections of
the State, furnishes some indication of the
feeling prevailing at our homes. The peO-
pie of the West revere the high Office of
Chief Magistrate of the nation, ard their
loyalty and patriotism impel them to honor
him who fills that exalted position Es-
pecially is it so, when the man who fills it
performs his duties with the wisdom, fear
lessness and patriotism which characterize
your administration.
No organization, however strong, and
no occurrence, however important, will be
required to add interest to the occasion OF
your presence. The people OF Missouri
and the West will cOngregate in vast num-
berS 20 meet and welcome you in the COM
mercial centre of the Mississippi Valley.
We have designated the first week in Oc-
tOber ~ the time for your visit because we
thought that time would he most cOnve-
nieut and agreeable for you; because it is
the season when our trade pageant givOS
it's annual display; when the mysterious
yelled prophet surrounded with Oriental
SplendOr makes his autumnal visit; when
our streets are brilliantly illuminated by
arches of blazing light ard on scale of
magnifcence never approached; when our
exposition and our agricultural and me-
chanical fair, each the greatest of its kind
on the continent, are in progress; and be-
cause, finally, it is a season the sterling
yeOmanry of the land, the bulwark of the
republic and the GREATEST contributors 10
IFS wealth, can, with least detriment to
their agricultural interests, assemble in
our city to do you honor.
Ii, however, another time would be bet
ter suited to your convenience or engage
ments, yOur welcome would he none the
less genuine. The city of st. Louis, the
State of Missouri, and the people of the
West say to the President of the United
States, Honor us with your presence, and
to Grover Cleveland, the honest, fearless
man who so ably fills that high Office,
Come, and be our guest
At the conclusion of the address Mayor
Francis presented an deliberately engraved
invitation TO the President, which read as
follows:
10 Grorer ClereIand, President Of the UHitsd
States, Greeting:
The people of ST. Louis pursuant to a
resolution unanimously adopted at pub
lie meeting held by them at the Merchants
Exchange in said city, July 3, 1887, and
presided over by the Mayor of the city, do
now earnestly and respectfully invite the
President of the United States and Mrs.
Cleveland TO visit st. Louis as the guests of
the city for the week commencing October
2d, 1887, aud in doing SD they beg leave
to urge on the President their desire to
give him welcome that shall demonstrate
their love for him as public officer and a
man.
[Signed. DAVID Il. FRANCIS,
Mayor and Chairman.
CHAS. y. MITCHELL, secretary, ana
ninety-two others"
Mayor Francis remarks, which were
made of-hand, were repeatedly interrupt
ed by applause, which was redoublei
when the address was formally presented
to the President with the terse remark
that it was from what they thought was
the greatest city of the continent to him,
whom they thought the greatest President
OF the United States.
The President, also speaking extempO-
raneOusly, replied rs follows:
"MR. MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN: My re-
ply to your very complimentary and hearty
address shall be very brief and very
agreeable. At the time you did me the
honor to invite me to your city on the oc-
cas;on of your last visit felt quite con-
trary to my expectations when l first met
you, that it was an invitation which ought
not to be declined. felt impressed at
the moment that You had something there
in St. Louis of which you were deseryedly
proud, that you had city and a people aud
interests there whichit was only right and
Just You should earnestly desire that the
Chief MAGISTRATE of the Nation should see